1 Who is as the wise{H2450} man? and who knoweth{H3045}{(H8802)} the interpretation{H6592} of a thing{H1697}? a man's{H120} wisdom{H2451} maketh his face{H6440} to shine{H215}{(H8686)}, and the boldness{H5797} of his face{H6440} shall be changed{H8132}{(H8792)}.

2 I counsel thee to keep{H8104}{(H8798)} the king's{H4428} commandment{H6310}, and that in regard{H1700} of the oath{H7621} of God{H430}.

3 Be not hasty{H926}{(H8735)} to go out{H3212}{(H8799)} of his sight{H6440}: stand{H5975}{(H8799)} not in an evil{H7451} thing{H1697}; for he doeth{H6213}{(H8799)} whatsoever pleaseth{H2654}{(H8799)} him.

4 Where the word{H1697} of a king{H4428} is, there is power{H7983}: and who may say{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, What doest{H6213}{(H8799)} thou?

5 Whoso keepeth{H8104}{(H8802)} the commandment{H4687} shall feel{H3045}{(H8799)} no evil{H7451} thing{H1697}: and a wise man's{H2450} heart{H3820} discerneth{H3045}{(H8799)} both time{H6256} and judgment{H4941}.

6 Because to every purpose{H2656} there is{H3426} time{H6256} and judgment{H4941}, therefore the misery{H7451} of man{H120} is great{H7227} upon him.

7 For he knoweth{H3045}{(H8802)} not that which shall be: for who can tell{H5046}{(H8686)} him when it shall be?

8 There is no man{H120} that hath power{H7989} over the spirit{H7307} to retain{H3607}{(H8800)} the spirit{H7307}; neither hath he power{H7983} in the day{H3117} of death{H4194}: and there is no discharge{H4917} in that war{H4421}; neither shall wickedness{H7562} deliver{H4422}{(H8762)} those that are given{H1167} to it.

9 All this have I seen{H7200}{(H8804)}, and applied{H5414}{(H8800)} my heart{H3820} unto every work{H4639} that is done{H6213}{(H8738)} under the sun{H8121}: there is a time{H6256} wherein one man{H120} ruleth{H7980}{(H8804)} over another to his own hurt{H7451}.

10 And so{H3651} I saw{H7200}{(H8804)} the wicked{H7563} buried{H6912}{(H8803)}, who had come{H935}{(H8804)} and gone{H1980}{(H8762)} from the place{H4725} of the holy{H6918}, and they were forgotten{H7911}{(H8691)} in the city{H5892} where they had so done{H6213}{(H8804)}: this is also vanity{H1892}.

11 Because sentence{H6599} against an evil{H7451} work{H4639} is not executed{H6213}{(H8738)} speedily{H4120}, therefore the heart{H3820} of the sons{H1121} of men{H120} is fully set{H4390}{(H8804)} in them to do{H6213}{(H8800)} evil{H7451}.

12 Though a sinner{H2398}{(H8802)} do{H6213}{(H8802)} evil{H7451} an hundred times{H3967}, and his days be prolonged{H748}{(H8688)}, yet surely I know{H3045}{(H8802)} that it shall be well{H2896} with them that fear{H3373} God{H430}, which fear{H3372}{(H8799)} before{H6440} him:

13 But it shall not be well{H2896} with the wicked{H7563}, neither shall he prolong{H748}{(H8686)} his days{H3117}, which are as a shadow{H6738}; because he feareth{H3373} not before{H6440} God{H430}.

14 There is{H3426} a vanity{H1892} which is done{H6213}{(H8738)} upon the earth{H776}; that there be just{H6662} men, unto whom it happeneth{H5060}{(H8688)} according to the work{H4639} of the wicked{H7563}; again, there be{H3426} wicked{H7563} men, to whom it happeneth{H5060}{(H8688)} according to the work{H4639} of the righteous{H6662}: I said{H559}{(H8804)} that this also{H1571} is vanity{H1892}.

15 Then I commended{H7623}{(H8765)} mirth{H8057}, because a man{H120} hath no better thing{H2896} under the sun{H8121}, than to eat{H398}{(H8800)}, and to drink{H8354}{(H8800)}, and to be merry{H8055}{(H8800)}: for that shall abide{H3867}{(H8799)} with him of his labour{H5999} the days{H3117} of his life{H2416}, which God{H430} giveth{H5414}{(H8804)} him under the sun{H8121}.

16 When I applied{H5414}{(H8804)} mine heart{H3820} to know{H3045}{(H8800)} wisdom{H2451}, and to see{H7200}{(H8800)} the business{H6045} that is done{H6213}{(H8738)} upon the earth{H776}:(for also there is that neither day{H3117} nor night{H3915} seeth{H7200}{(H8802)} sleep{H8142} with his eyes{H5869}:)

17 Then I beheld{H7200}{(H8804)} all the work{H4639} of God{H430}, that a man{H120} cannot{H3201}{(H8799)} find out{H4672}{(H8800)} the work{H4639} that is done{H6213}{(H8738)} under the sun{H8121}: because{H834} though{H7945} a man{H120} labour{H5998}{(H8799)} to seek it out{H1245}{(H8763)}, yet he shall not find{H4672}{(H8799)} it; yea further; though a wise{H2450} man think{H559}{(H8799)} to know{H3045}{(H8800)} it, yet shall he not be able{H3201}{(H8799)} to find{H4672}{(H8800)} it.